Precision base and fixture adapter set-up

ABSTRACT

A tooling set-up to accurately interchange a wide variety of fixtures to be used in a high precision manufacturing process. With the use of an adapter with standard mounting holes custom or standard fixtures could be linked to the machine tool with extreme accuracy in alignment. With the three surface contact achieved by a single clamping pressure, extreme repeatability is built into the design. This system would enable a manufacturing facility to create a more continuous work flow through their Electrical Discharge Machine Department.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] This system offers rigid clamping and ultra precision locatingthat would be required in a precision manufacturing process. Theclamping pressure will not pry or lift the alignment base as do othersystems. The recieving surface is in clear view of the operator whichmakes the task of assuring perfect cleanliness an easier job to thesystem user. This cleanliness is a direct reflect to locating quality.All of the prior listed factors are held in focus as the design of thismounting system was developed.

DESCRIPTION OF PRIOR ART

[0002] In another U.S. Pat. No. 4,786,776 the design of a dovetail witha short dimension in heighth could be lifted from the table slightly inthe clamping. The clamping pressure could act as a pry which would causethis lifting action. This design also, is possible to have machine dirttrapped down in the dovetail out of the clear vision of the operator.This dirt could cause locating interference. Due to the extreme accuracyrequirements that are commonly required by the type of manufacturingthat would apply themselves to this kind of tooling system, any locationinaccuracies would put the quality results out of the commonly acceptedparameters.

[0003] This system is designed with concern of clamping pressures thatdraw components together rather than components that may wedge and splitthe alignment surfaces. Also in this design, it has been a maintainedfocus on the requirement to keep the heighth of the fixture assembly toa minimum to help prevent possible interference during machine movement.This interferrence would cause the operator to have to move the guidesof the Wire Electrical Discharge Machine farther apart. These guidessupport the cutting tool (the cutting wire) in the machine and thecloser you can keep them to the work, the improved accuracy will beeasier to achieve.

[0004] Federally Sponsored or Funded

[0005] There is no federal funding or federally sponsored research inconnection with the research process of this patent development.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0006] In the design of the base, strong consideration was taken in thematerial thickness required under the screw heads used, to securely holdthe base to the machine surface. Also, with using a group of fasteningscrews, you increase the holding pressure and spread it through a largerarea of the tool. With the base heat treated and precision ground thiswill give extreme accuracy and wear resistance for long reliable serviceduring use. With the locating surface of the clamping base facing up theoperator always has clear view of any dirt or interfering particals thatwould change the location of the adapters used when clamping accurs.

[0007] The base is designed with a main locating surface that willsupport and hold the adapter in perfect parallel with the table surfaceof the machine. This surface is also of proper flatness to assure thatyou do not experience a tilting affect occurs when the mating surface ofthe adapter is clamped directly to each other. This clamping offersrepeatability of the parts to be machined in the first axis or what isidentified on the machine as the “Z” axis.

[0008] A second surface which acts as an alignment edge will come incontact with the adapter during the clamping activity. This alignmentedge will bring the adapter with the fixture mounted to it in perfecttrue with the second axis of the machine tool.

[0009] As the clamping pressure continues, the adapter then will come incontact with the third and final edge of the base. This contact surfaceidentifies the final requirement of a complete location of three axisrepeatability. This complete focus of assuring repeatability in all axisis how quality manufacturing can be performed with perfect duplicationfrom part to part or set-up to set-up.

[0010] The design of this adapter is to allow the operator to mount avariety of fixtures to same. This flexability the adapter offers, willenable the operators to hold fixtures for round parts, tall parts, thinor even multiple parts. The adaptors with the fixtures mounted can beswitched in and out of the machine tool with a minute of down time. Thisquick change over makes an operation more profitable and flexable.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0011] In the drawing FIG. 1, we show the view of the base from the topside. This top surface is the area that the fixture adapter will attachto in mounting. The alignment surface #33 is the edge that appoints truealignment of the fixture being mounted.

[0012] In our drawing of FIG. 2, we show the view of the adapter thatwould mount to the fixture used in holding the workpiece. The reason forthe use of an adapter is that the fixture required may vary, based onthe shape or size of the workpiece being processed. In some requirementsa custom fixture may be required or fabricated to hold parts of uniqueshape or size.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0013] Now the invention will be more completely described with theassistance of the accompanying drawings. The main concerning factors ofthis invention will function properly in a wide variety of sizes.

[0014]FIG. 1 shows a view of the base component with the concerningfeatures. In this view it is pointed out, the multiple holes 36 formounting to a machine table. These mounting holes are located in a waythat match the locations of the machine table. In the design of thesefastening holes, the focus to have ample material thickness to be underthe screw head will supply secure holding strength.

[0015] The threaded hole 35 in the main locating surface 32 is set at acompound angle. This angle setting will assist in the clamping of theadapter of FIG. 2. The main locating surface 32 is ground on a precisionplain, parallel to the underside of the base.

[0016] The alignment surface 33 is a solid surface of the body extendingupward. Being of solid structure to assure rigidity during clampingpressure. This surface 33 is the second locating surface and whenmounted to the machine tool as in a Wire Electrical Discharge Machinewill be indicated true. This step of indicating this edge will assuretrue alignment of the fixtures when mounted to the adapters as shown inFIG. 2.

[0017] In FIG. 1 a second solid surface 34 extending upward from themain body 32, functions as a stop edge. This stop edge is the third andfinal edge of a complete and accurate locating pocket.

[0018] With the compound angle of the threaded mounting hole 35 andstrategically located, enables it to come in contact in proper sequencefor locating. As the bolt is being tightened through 38 of the adapterinto 35 of the base, the clamping action will first come in contact withthe main base surface 32. Then as clamping continues, the adapter willcome in contact with the alignment surface 33. Then as it comes incontact with surface 33, it will slide and come in contact will thefinal edge 34, which is the stop edge.

[0019] In FIG. 2 showing a view of the adapter. This component callingthe adapter functions as a precision link between the fixture being usedand the locating pocket or base as it is being referred to. This adapterallows the manufacturing operation to have an endless number of fixturesmounted to adapters and properly aligned, and ready to be quicklymounted to the base for instant use.

[0020] In this view, showing the clamping location 38, this location issuited to fit and is in matching angle at a transferring location withthe fastening hole in the base 35 location. A threaded fastener to suitis used to fasten the adapter to the base. In this adapter there aremounting holes to mount the adapter to the fixture to be set up forfuture use. These holes are set in a standard location as to interchangewith a wide range of fixtures.

[0021] In this view showing location 41 representing a pivoting locationbeing held by a slip fit pivot pin. This pivoting action is needed toindicate the fixture accurately. To pivot the fixture to be mountedwithout a hammering action, a cam action pressure is applied by cam pin42. By rotating the cam pin 42, the fixture will be pivoted in or outuntil properly set. This adapter is precision ground for smooth andreliable clamping.

The claims are as follows:
 1. It is claimed that as a precision holdingsystem used in a manufacturing process, comprised of a base that ismounted to the table of a machine tool, in particular, a Wire ElectricalDischarge Machine. This base is a precision component with a mainclamping surface that is ground with extreme focus to the parallelrequirement. This parallel requirement is set forth to assure theworkpiece true to the machine table. With multiple mounting holes tomount the base to the machine table, it assures solid mounting. In usinga series of holes, the bolting will hold and maintain location, asneeded in any process requiring repeatability. The base is of solidconstruction. All surfaces and edges are manufactured from one part, notan attachment of. In this structure of solid contact points forlocating, so to be a provider for repeatable accuracy. In the base, setat a predetermained compound angle is a threaded structure that wasdeveloped to properly hold the adapters in place. This location andangle will cause a sequence of contacts being made when the boltingprocess is executed. And in claiming the contact surfaces constructed ina way to assure extreme true condition. These true surfaces are inrelation to the clamping bolt so as to allow, as the clamping bolt isapplied it will first apply pressure to locate the first mating surface,being of the largest surface. Then as the clamping is continued thepressure will automatically move the adapter to the second surface,being the alignment edge of the base. And as final pressure is appliedthe adapter is slide along the alignment surface and is put in contactwith the third and last edge, being the stop edge.
 2. It is also claimedthat with the use of an adapter allows quick interchange of an endlessvariety of fixturing. And in these adapters it claims a mating clamphole that will hold a bolt and in clamping, will activate the process ofclamping explained in prior claim. To be a receiver of multiple fixturesa series of fastening holes are positioned at the one end of theadapter, opposite to the end that mates to the base. With the fastening,also there are a group of holes that act as, one being the pivot pointfor trueing the fixture to the axis movement of the machine tool. Thesecond is a specific location to be used as a cam pin location. At thislocation by the function of a cam pin, by rotating the pin it will forcethe fixture one way or the other to true the fixure.